Oscars 2009: Nixon Speaks

In 2007 I had the chance to sit down with Frank Langella, as he began filming "Frost / Nixon," Ron Howard's film of the state play or which Langella had already won a Tony Award and for which he has since been nominated for an Oscar as best actor.

We sat in a busy coffee shop and he was gracious and relaxed. Later as I transcribed the tape of my interview I could hear the clink of his spoon as he stirred his tea. The conversation was wide ranging, but the bit reprinted below focuses on the curious case of Richard Nixon and his place in the American consciousness.

Toronto - Jimmy Carter may have been the first US president to attend the Toronto International Film Festival in the flesh but other presidents were at the festival in spirit.

Carter is the subject of the documentary "The Man From Plains," by "Silence of the Lambs" and "Neil Young: Heart of Gold" director Jonathan Demme, which showed here last week. And prior to the screening Carter and former first lady Rosalyn Carter, discussed Middle East peace and social justice at a packed public appearance here - with Secret Service agents in the wings - that was taped for later broadcast. ("The Man From Plains" is scheduled for wide release later this fall).

Pres. Bush was also represented at the festival, in surrogate form through numerous films about the Iraq war, including "Rendition," with Reese Witherspoon, about US torture policy; "Redacted," a fictional film based on an actual atrocity by US troops in Iraq, by Brian De Palma; and "In the Valley of Elah," about a soldier who was murdered after his return from Iraq, which was also based on a true story.

But the ghost of Richard Nixon was here too. It sat a restaurant table and fiddled with the Sweet'N' Low, while discussing aging and mortality.

Nixon was actually Frank Langella, who won a Tony Award as best actor for his portrayal of the late president in "Nixon / Frost," Peter Morgan’s play based on David Frost’s televised interviews with Nixon after he resigned from office. Langella is also starring in a film of the play by Ron Howard whose release next fall is scheduled to coincide with the presidential elections.

Langella was in Toronto to discuss his new film called "Starting Out in the Evening" in which he plays an once influential but lately forgotten author in the autumn of his years, cooperating with a youhg woman writing a thesis paper on his work and career. The film is schedled for release this fall.

As for Nixon, who has been played by Phillip Baker Hall, Beau Bridges, Dan Aykroyd, Dan Hedaya, Lane Smith, Rip Torn and Anthony Hopkins, just why he is an endlessly fascinating character is an endlessly fascinating subject.

"He’s the poster boy for all our neurosis, isn’t he," said Langella during an interview here. "He’s the walking symbol of ... how you can self destruct when you have everything and how you can let the voices in your head ruin your life."

He said that for the film Howard is opening up the play "but not for the sake of it. I find everything hes chosen to do pretty legitimate."

The film also stars Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt and Michael Sheen, who played the Frost role on Broaday.

The material still resonates today, said Langella, because of its portrait of presidential power.

"Nixon has a line that when you’re in office you have do things that are not always in the best sense of the word legal, but you do them for the greater good of the country." And Frost says, "Are you telling me the president can do something illegal for the good of the nation?"

And Nixon says, "If the president does it, it's not illegal." That line he said, "would bring down the house."

About Duane Dudek

Duane Dudek is a reporter and columnist covering radio and television. He also reviews movies.